The Lost Weekend

Ray Milland stars as alcoholic writer Don Birnam in Billy Wilder's first unabashedly dramatic film, and one of the first to deal in such painstaking detail with the disease of alcoholism. Don shares an apartment in New York City in the 1940s with his brother Wick (Phillip Terry) who has his hands full trying to deal with his brother's drinking problem. One night, Don encourages his brother to take his girlfriend Helen St. James (Jane Wyman) to hear some music only so that he can be out from under their watchful eyes. Taking the money left for the maid, he goes out to buy some liquor, stashing one bottle in the chandelier. When he goes to the bar the next day, Nat (Howard Da Silva), the owner berates him for treating his girlfriend badly and warns him that he's on a path toward death. Don returns to the apartment to try to work on his novel "The Bottle," but consumed by self-doubt, goes to another bar, and steals a woman's purse to buy a drink. As the weekend wears on, his spiral downward continues apace. Although dated in some respects, the film's unadorned portrait of the relentless torture that is alcoholism still packs a powerful punch thanks to Wilder's sharp script, the deep-focus camerawork of John Seitz, and a career performance by Ray Milland.

Cast:

Year - Presenter		Award Category		Result		Name
1945 - Academy Awards		Best Actor		Winner		Ray Milland
1945 - Academy Awards		Best Adapted Screenplay		Winner		Charles Brackett
1945 - Academy Awards		Best Adapted Screenplay		Winner		Billy Wilder
1945 - Academy Awards		Best Director		Winner		Billy Wilder
1945 - Academy Awards		Best Picture		Winner		Not Applicable
1946 - Cannes		Best Actor		Winner		Ray Milland

"Every addiction film since has taken a page from LOST WEEKEND; if only they'd been as good." -- Premiere Staff , (Premiere)

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